A road trip across the United States is on almost every Israeli traveler's bucket list. The problem is that "the USA" is the size of a continent, with wildly different regions, and the pricing varies more than any other popular destination. We built three complete routes for three different budgets. Pick whichever one fits your trip.
Route 1: The Southwest Loop — budget-friendly
Route: Las Vegas → Zion → Bryce Canyon → Monument Valley → Grand Canyon → Sedona → Vegas
Days: 10–12
Target total for two: ILS 22,000–28,000
Flying into Vegas is almost always the cheapest US entry point from TLV. Car rentals at McCarran are competitive. Hotels in the national park gateway towns (Springdale, Tusayan, Page) are pricier than you'd guess — offset them with a couple of nights camping or at chain motels.
Cost breakdown for two
| Category | Cost (ILS) |
|---|---|
| Flights TLV → Las Vegas (2 people) | 7,000–10,000 |
| Rental car (10 days, mid-size) | 2,800 |
| Gas (3,500 km) | 1,500 |
| Hotels (10 nights, motels + 2 splurges) | 5,500 |
| Food (diners, picnics, one good dinner) | 3,200 |
| Park entries (annual pass covers all) | 380 |
| Activities (guided Antelope Canyon, etc.) | 1,200 |
| Total for a couple | ILS 21,580–25,580 |
Route 2: The Pacific Coast Classic — mid-range
Route: San Francisco → Monterey → Big Sur → San Simeon → Santa Barbara → Los Angeles → San Diego
Days: 10
Target total for two: ILS 32,000–42,000
California doesn't do cheap, but it also doesn't require luxury to feel magical. The Pacific Coast Highway is the driving route — no freeway substitute. Book Big Sur and Santa Barbara stays first, since they're the pinch points.
Cost breakdown for two
| Category | Cost (ILS) |
|---|---|
| Flights TLV → SF (open-jaw out of San Diego) | 8,000–12,000 |
| Rental car (10 days, convertible splurge) | 4,500 |
| Gas (1,600 km) + tolls | 900 |
| Hotels (9 nights, mix of 3- and 4-star) | 10,500 |
| Food (coast restaurants aren't cheap) | 5,500 |
| Attractions (Hearst Castle, Getty, etc.) | 1,200 |
| Buffer (wine tasting, spontaneous stops) | 1,800 |
| Total for a couple | ILS 32,400–36,400 |
Route 3: The East Coast Classic — full splurge
Route: New York → Philadelphia → Washington DC → Shenandoah → Asheville → Charleston → Savannah
Days: 14
Target total for two: ILS 55,000–75,000
This is the luxury version. Manhattan hotels alone can devour a budget; by picking boutique properties on quieter blocks, you keep the experience without the marquee prices. The rest of the route is surprisingly affordable.
Cost breakdown for two
| Category | Cost (ILS) |
|---|---|
| Flights TLV → NYC, Savannah → TLV (premium economy) | 14,000–22,000 |
| Rental car (picked up day 5) | 3,800 |
| Hotels (13 nights, 4-star including 3 NYC) | 18,500 |
| Food (fine dining 2x, otherwise casual) | 8,500 |
| Attractions & museums | 2,800 |
| Broadway show, Nationals game, extras | 2,500 |
| Gas, tolls, parking | 1,800 |
| Buffer | 2,500 |
| Total for a couple | ILS 54,400–62,400 |
Three things every USA road tripper should know
Tipping is real
Add 18–20% to every restaurant bill, ILS 4–8 per drink at a bar, $1–2 per bag to valets and bellhops. It's not optional — servers earn most of their income this way. Budget accordingly.
Gas and car rentals have hidden costs
The rental price you see online is usually missing collision damage waiver (often mandatory in practice), airport fees (10–20% extra), and a second-driver fee. Expect the actual total to be 25–30% more than the headline number.
Travel insurance matters more here
US healthcare is ruinous without insurance. A slip and a trip to the ER can be $3,000 before you're even seen. A ILS 150 travel insurance policy covering the trip is the best money you'll spend.
The right route for your budget
- Under ILS 30,000 for two: Southwest Loop. No compromises.
- ILS 30,000–45,000: Pacific Coast. Or a modified Southwest with an extra week.
- ILS 50,000+: East Coast, or a longer Pacific Coast with Yosemite + Napa.
Whichever you pick, the US rewards travelers who move slower. Two extra days in Sedona or Savannah are almost always worth more than one extra city on the itinerary.